The SSAR, whose list is used by this website, has recognized that the species Lampropeltis zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake (which formerly was viewed as one species with seven subspecies) now consists of two species. No subspecies have been recognized yet. The other species is Lampropeltis zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake. I will follow the two-species taxonomy while separating pictures of the snakes into their former subspecies, for those who like to recognize the subspecies, but don't let that confuse you -

All of the snakes on this page except for those marked as "Species Not Known" are the same species.

These snakes from the coast range south of Monterey Bay were not included in the study that recognized two species.
They could be either L. zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake, or L. multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake

A medium-sized slender snake with a head not much wider than the cylindrical body with smooth shiny scales.

Color and Pattern

Black, red, and off-white or grayish-white rings circle the body.
The red bands are noticably wider than the others, with the white bands wider than the black.
Some black bands may widen and cross over the red bands on the back, especially in populations in the Santa Monica Mountains.
A red band surrounded by two black bands is referred to as a "triad."
On this subspecies there are 18 - 39 triads, with an average of 33.
Typically, 60 percent or more of the triads have complete red bands with no black crossovers.
The bands continue around the belly, but the coloring is paler, and the black and white bands are reduced in size giving the belly a reddish coloring.
The nose is black sometimes with some red.

Life History and Behavior

Secretive, but not rare in suitable habitat. Spends most of the time underground, under surface objects, or inside rock crevices. Occasionally seen active on the ground in the daytime, especially near shaded streams on hot sunny days. Active during the day at high altitudes during times of low nighttime temperatures (which is typical habitat.) When temperatures are more moderate, it can be crepuscular, nocturnal, and diurnal. During very hot weather, activity is primarily nocturnal. This snake is normally active at temperatures between aproximately 55 - 85 degrees.

Enters into winter hibernation typically around November, emerging some time from February to April, depending on location and weather conditions.

Diet and Feeding

Eats lizards, small mammals, nestling birds, bird eggs, amphibians, and occasionally snakes, including its own species.

Breeding

Breeding takes place a few weeks after emergence in the spring.
Eggs are laid June-July and hatch after 50 - 65 days.

Habitat

A habitat generalist, found in diverse habitats including coniferous forest, oak-pine woodlands, riparian woodland, chaparral, manzanita, and coastal sage scrub. Wooded areas near a stream with rock outcrops, talus or rotting logs that are exposed to the sun are good places to find this snake.

Geographical Range

According to Myers et al (2013) "Lampropeltis multifasciata is composed of all populations in the Peninsular Ranges and in the Transverse Ranges, north into the Coast Ranges just south of Monterey Bay, California, including the disjunct population on Isla Sur of Islas Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico."

The presence of Lampropeltis zonata on Santa Catalina Island was confirmed when an Island Fox was videotaped preying on a California Mountain Kingsnake on Catalina Island on April 26th, 2015. I am presuming that it is L. z. pulchra due to its geographic location. A still photo was posted on Facebook and might still be available. A video file of the April 2015 discovery has been put in the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. You might be able to still watch it on the Facebook Group - Herping the Globe.
Robert W. Hansen, Richard Cazares, and Alexus Cazares. Herpetological Review 46(4), 2015

There are unconfirmed sight records from the interior south coast ranges.

Confirmed from the Gabilan Range at Fremont Peak, first San Benito County record, in 2013. Dana Waters, Herpetological Review 44(2), 2013

Click the map to enlarge. Click Here to see a map of the ranges of all formerly recognized subspecies.
Click Here to see a map of the ranges of the former subspecies in California.

Elevational Range

From near sea level along the coast, to 9,000 ft. (2750 m) on Mt. San Jacinto.

Notes on Taxonomy

In 2013 Myers et al (Myers, E. A., J. A. Rodríguez-Robles, D. F. DeNardo, R. E. Staub, A. Stropoli, S. Ruane, and F. T. Burbrink. 2013. Multilocus phylogeographic assessment of the California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) suggests alternative patterns of diversification for the California Floristic Province. Molecular Ecology 22 2013 - PDF) show that Lampropeltis zonata consists of two species, but did not give these species Common Names. They also show that the southern species contains two lineages - the southern species, and the Peninsular Range lineage.

"Using nonparametic and Bayesian species delimitation, we determined that there are two well-supported species within L. zonata. Ecological niche modelling supports the delimitation of these taxa, suggesting that the two species inhabit distinct climatic environments. Gene flow between the two taxa is low and appears to occur unidirectionally. [north to south only] Further, our data suggest that gene flow was mediated by females, a rare pattern in snakes. In contrast to previous analyses, we determined that the divergence between the two lineages occurred in the late Pliocene (c. 2.07 Ma). Spatially and temporally, the divergence of these lineages is associated with the inundation of central California by the Monterey Bay."

"Recognizing two species in this complex is a conservative decision, as the southern taxon could potentially be further subdivided into two separate lineages."

As of June 2016 the SSAR shows the common names to be California Mountain Kingsnake and Coast Mountain Kingsnake.

Lampropeltis zonata (Lockington ex Blainville 1835)

"Lampropeltis zonata is composed of all populations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Coast Ranges north of Monterey Bay, California, north into the Klamath Mountains, in Oregon, plus an additional, disjunct population along the Columbia Gorge, in the great state of Washington."

Lampropeltis multifasciata (Bocourt 1886)

"Lampropeltis multifasciata is composed of all populations in the Peninsular Ranges and in the Transverse Ranges, north into the Coast Ranges just south of Monterey Bay, California, including the disjunct population on Isla Sur of Islas Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico."

The State of California has listed the subspecies L. z. pulchra - San Diego Mountain Kingsnake as a California Species of Special Concern. It is protected from take with a sport fishing license by law: "No California mountain kingsnakes can be collected in No California mountain kingsnakes - Lampropeltis zonata may be taken in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties."

When slabs are torn off rock outcrops by someone searching for this snake or other reptiles, the habitat this snake uses for refuge is irreparably damaged. It takes thousands of years for this rock fissuring to occur, so this habitat will not be replaced for many centuries. Such rock destruction is illegal in California: "It is unlawful to use any method or means of collecting that involves breaking apart of rocks, granite flakes, logs or other shelters in or under which reptiles may be found." (2007 regulations 5.60.4.)

Reptile hunters are usually blamed for rock habitat destruction, but bulldozers are far more destructive. I have also witnessed granite collectors tearing off huge slabs of granite with a crowbar then carrying the slabs away.

The following status listings are copied from the April 2018 Special Animals List and the 2017 Endangered and Threatened Animals List, both of which are published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

If no status is listed here, the animal is not included on either CDFW list. This most likely indicates that there are no serious conservation concerns for the animal. To find out more about an animal's status, you can go to the NatureServe and IUCN websites to check their rankings.

The Special Animals List lists the "San Diego" (L. z. pulchra) population of L. multifasciata as shown below.

Organization

Status Listing

NatureServe Global Ranking

G4G5

Apparently Secure - Secure

NatureServe State Ranking

S1S2

Critically Imperiled - Imperiled

U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)

None

California Endangered Species Act (CESA)

None

California Department of Fish and Wildlife

WL

Watch List

Bureau of Land Management

S

Sensitive

USDA Forest Service

S

Sensitive

IUCN

LC

Least Concern

The Special Animals List lists the "San Bernardino" (L. z. parvirubra) population of L. multifasciata as shown below.

Organization

Status Listing

NatureServe Global Ranking

G4G5

Apparently Secure - Secure

NatureServe State Ranking

S2?

Imperiled in the state because of rarity due to very restricted range, very few populations (often 20 or fewer), steep declines, or other factors making it very vulnerable to extirpation from the state.